Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
Related Searches
on Ask.com
Synonyms
Nearby Entries
latitude - 6 dictionary results
New Dell Latitude™ Laptop
 Advanced Performance Dell™ Notebook With Intel® Core™Centrino Processor
 www.Dell.com

lat⋅i⋅tude

  [lat-i-tood, -tyood]
Use latitude in a Sentence
–noun
1. Geography.
a. the angular distance north or south from the equator of a point on the earth's surface, measured on the meridian of the point.
b. a place or region as marked by this distance.
2. freedom from narrow restrictions; freedom of action, opinion, etc.: He allowed his children a fair amount of latitude.
3. Astronomy.
a. celestial latitude.
b. galactic latitude.
4. Photography. the ability of an emulsion to record the brightness values of a subject in their true proportion to one another, expressed as the ratio of the amount of brightness in the darkest possible value to the amount of brightness in the brightest: a latitude of 1 to 128.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME < L lātitūdō breadth, equiv. to lāt(us) broad + -i- -i- + -tūdō -tude

Synonyms:
2. extent, liberty, indulgence. See range.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To latitude
lat·i·tude   (lāt'ĭ-tōōd', -tyōōd')   


(click for larger image in new window)
n.  
    1. The angular distance north or south of the earth's equator, measured in degrees along a meridian, as on a map or globe.
    2. A region of the earth considered in relation to its distance from the equator: temperate latitudes.
  2. Astronomy The angular distance of a celestial body north or south of the ecliptic.
  3. Freedom from normal restraints, limitations, or regulations. See Synonyms at room.
  4. A range of values or conditions, especially the range of exposures over which a photographic film yields usable images.
  5. Extent; breadth.

[Middle English, geographical latitude, from Old French, width, from Latin lātitūdō, width, geographical latitude, from lātus, wide.]
lat'i·tu'din·al (-tōōd'n-əl, -tyōōd'-) adj., lat'i·tu'di·nal·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Latitude

Lat"i*tude\, n. [F. latitude, L. latitudo, fr. latus broad, wide, for older stlatus; perh. akin to E. strew.]

1. Extent from side to side, or distance sidewise from a given point or line; breadth; width.

Provided the length do not exceed the latitude above one third part. --Sir H. Wotton.

2. Room; space; freedom from confinement or restraint; hence, looseness; laxity; independence.

In human actions there are no degrees and precise natural limits described, but a latitude is indulged. --Jer. Taylor.

3. Extent or breadth of signification, application, etc.; extent of deviation from a standard, as truth, style, etc.

No discreet man will believe Augustine's miracles, in the latitude of monkish relations. --Fuller.

4. Extent; size; amplitude; scope.

I pretend not to treat of them in their full latitude. --Locke.

5. (Geog.) Distance north or south of the equator, measured on a meridian.

6. (Astron.) The angular distance of a heavenly body from the ecliptic.

Ascending latitude, Circle of latitude, Geographical latitude, etc. See under Ascending. Circle, etc.

High latitude, that part of the earth's surface near either pole, esp. that part within either the arctic or the antarctic circle.

Low latitude, that part of the earth's surface which is near the equator.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Cite This Source
Language Translation for : latitude
Spanish: latitud,
German: die geographische Breite,
Japanese: 緯度
More Translations »

latitude

The measurement, in degrees, of a place's distance north or south of the equator. (Compare longitude.)

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

latitude 
c.1391, from L. latitudo "breadth, width, extent, size," from latus "wide," from PIE base *stela- "to spread" (cf. O.C.S. steljo "to spread out," Arm. lain "broad"). Geographical sense also is from c.1391, lit. "breadth" of a map of the known world. Meaning "freedom from narrow restrictions" (1605) led to latitudinarian (1662) "characterized by broad-mindedness," esp. in ref. to Episcopal clergymen indifferent to doctrinal details.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
latitude   (lāt'ĭ-td')  Pronunciation Key 
  1. A measure of relative position north or south on the Earth's surface, measured in degrees from the equator, which has a latitude of 0°, with the poles having a latitude of 90° north and south. The distance of a degree of latitude is about 69 statute miles or 60 nautical miles (111 km). Latitude and longitude are the coordinates that together identify all positions on the Earth's surface. Compare longitude.
  2. Celestial latitude.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see latitude on Thesaurus | Reference
New Dell Latitude™ Laptop
 Advanced Performance Dell™ Notebook With Intel® Core™Centrino Processor
 www.Dell.com